Ambulance dispute flares again

Page Tools

Victoria's ambulance dispute has flared again following claims by the paramedics union of a cut in ambulance crew numbers.

Earlier this month, paramedics imposed work bans over a pay and conditions dispute.

But they lifted the bans after the industrial umpire declared them illegal and the state government threatened to take the union to the Federal Court.

Paramedics are still in talks with the government over a 12 per cent pay claim, and they also want extra money for higher skill levels.

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Rod Morris said today the Metropolitan Ambulance Service had reneged on a commitment to put on 13 extra crews to ensure paramedics had adequate meal breaks.

He said the union would lodge a notice of dispute in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) over the matter.

However, a spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the extra crews had not been rostered on because paramedics were refusing to do overtime.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

"They would keep those crews on, but strangely, no one will do any overtime anymore, so there are no crews available," he said.

The spokesman said there was also a high level of absenteeism among paramedics, which the government was monitoring.

Mr Morris said the ambulance service was trying to provoke the union.

"The commission has said we can't take industrial action, but it doesn't give them any right to withdraw those crews," he said.

Paramedics want a 12 per cent pay rise over three and a half years, as well as a $95-a-week skills allowance and more ambulance staff to ease workloads.

The government has offered a three per cent annual pay rise.

It is also understood to have offered a $20 weekly allowance for paramedics with advanced life support skills, a figure rejected by the union.